That must change the Swiss national team

National coach Vladimir Petkovic (right) with his team of coaches in St. Petersburg.

The president of the Association, Peter Gilliéron, declared without delay: "There is no referral from Vladimir Petkovic." Point. This is the fate of a coach (and the player) that he is judged by the most significant games. And that's why this defeat of Sweden and the disappointing performance of the World Cup still hangs over everything. So you would like to ask some questions to Vladimir Petkovic, but the side of the association, everything is said. The SFV means: Petkovic spoke immediately after the defeat, which must also be enough two days later. It's a pity, because you would like to know how he intends to continue with himself and the Swiss team. We would have liked it to be different from this Russian summer, where he was buttoned up and spoke only when it was necessary.

Up to here, the coach has done a lot of good things, often by intuition. At the World Cup, it only worked towards the end. In addition, there was too little friction and too much harmony between the players in their team base too far from Tolyatti. After the group matches, in which one can still correct an error, the balloon no longer rolled for Switzerland. And presumably, after the discussions on eagle greetings, the necessary levity was lacking; in essence, the collapse had begun. Petkovic did the SFV and the national team, gave him a new style of play. For this, he rallied over the four years, more or less the same players around him and began to grow with them: he was symbiotic, mutually stimulating. By the way, after a successful start, Ticino made a change, opened it, approached people. Until before the World Cup

Now the next change is waiting Petkovic. On the one hand, it must be tactically more flexible, Switzerland is static and too focused on the 4-2-3-1 system, possession of the ball and granite Xhaka / Xherdan Shaqiri. On the other hand, he must open the team for new players in the fall of the League of Nations. Otherwise, after stopping, the regression threatens. But it is doubtful that players like Johan Djourou or Gelson Fernandes can continue to operate and drive from the bank of the team that wants to catch up in two years; a team that should be more African (Mbabu, Zakaria, Mvogo), more cosmopolitan.

The future: changing the team

It seems that the team of this composition has gone beyond the best and the best zenith. It was between 2016 and 2018 and the two knockout stages. Valon Behrami, Blerim Dzemaili and Stephan Lichtsteiner were the cornerstones of these two years, which led to a series of victories in the World Cup qualifiers. But these three players will not be better in the fall. The predictable mutations in the team are certainly a chance for Petkovic, especially for the team. Because it changes the self-image and helps to find a path that does not lead exclusively and unconditionally to this excessive self-esteem or self-image.

Gilliéron had no explanation for his emotionless performance against Sweden. A clue is certainly this game of Serbia in which the Swiss and especially Xhaka / Shaqiri lost a lot of energy and burned all the fire. However, Gilliéron still provided an approach: "We qualified for the knockout stages, but it was not Germany who was the opponent, but Sweden." What we brings to the mentality. Can a Swiss team afford to be grape harvesters? Only to block the concentration against Brazil or Germany? Or in emotionally charged games like Serbia or Albania? No. We must not let the Swiss lack humility. Unless you speak not only loud, but it is. Not only are you talking about being a great team, but you are doing great things too. Every Swiss player must be aware that the offensive means of play are too modest to give up emotions, struggle, willpower, attitude and character. If only for a game. And if only for this eighth final.

The teams for qualifying for the European Championship will be drawn on December 2nd in Dublin. The starting list is created on the basis of the results of the League of Nations, which is why the matches against Belgium and Iceland in the autumn have a different meaning than the matches in Belgium. usual tests. After all, the Swiss will not need a special incentive injection against strong Belgians, whose promotion of young talent is comparable.

Roger Federer and the sore spot

The king of tennis was good enough to say goodbye. Roger Federer hits a pretty painful place. Speaking of the final of the Swiss World Cup at Wimbledon, he said: "I think we have what we deserve," he said, "we do not belong to the top eight teams in the world . " "It is important to put energy on the ground every day and every training session, and if you always play at the highest level possible, you bring power even in the most important moments." Regarding the mentality, some Swiss would not be too ill advised to take Federer's advice to heart.The fact that the talents are not the only ones to decide to win big games is in fact not a novelty, all the more tumbling that the question of the mentality of the Swiss team is more relevant than ever – despite constant assurances to the contrary.If players only go over the limit, if the opponent is too powerful, it does not bode well.The power of mental strength – it's a discussion that will make this team last for a long time.

The Swiss want to take the World Cup as a process. learning for the future. At some point, things must be. The appearances in World Cup and European Championship series are already something, but not everything. And now too little for Switzerland.